Written questions by Hayes.

If she will take steps to introduce mandatory prison sentences for people convicted of drug driving offences in cases where no accident has occurred.

The safety of our roads is an absolute priority for this Government. That is why the Department for Transport is committed to delivering a new Road Safety Strategy – the first in over a decade. They will set out next steps on this in due course.While independent judges decide sentences, we are committed to making sure the courts have the sentencing powers to ensure punishments fit the severity of the crime.Provisions in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (the Act) increased the maximum penalty from 14 years’ imprisonment to life for the offences of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, and causing death by dangerous driving.We continue to work alongside the Department for Transport to ensure sentencing law for driving offences is appropriate.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has funded Stratospheric Aerosol Injection in the last three years.

The government has not funded any field-based Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI).The Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) is an independent research body, and they are conducting cautious, controlled research aimed at improving understanding of the risks and impacts of Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). This will produce important information for decisions around the world.ARIA’s programme includes laboratory-based research and some small-scale field trials to explore the fundamental science around SRM. This does not involve releasing materials into the stratosphere. All field trials will be subject to an environmental impact and legal assessment, which will be made publicly available before any outdoor experiment takes place. They will be limited in size, scale, and time-bound, so the effects dissipate within 24 hours or are fully reversible. ARIA are not funding experiments that release toxic materials to the environment.

If she will set a timeline for the introduction of mandatory chemical suppressants for sex offenders.

As set out by the Lord Chancellor’s oral statement on 22 May 2025, it is vital that people convicted of sexual offences are robustly managed to ensure the public are protected to the fullest degree.We are committed to increasing the use of medication to manage problematic sexual arousal for sex offenders by expanding the existing feasibility pilot in the Southwest to two additional regions, which will see the service extend from four to 20 prisons as a first step.The Government wants to learn from the pilots and experience in other jurisdictions, as it takes policy in this area forward.

If she will make it his policy to establish an independent body to administer compensation following miscarriages of justice.

Under the statutory scheme set out in section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, the Secretary of State for Justice is responsible for considering applications for compensation in cases of miscarriages of justice in England and Wales, subject to specific criteria. Where an individual meets the criteria, an Independent Assessor has discretion in determining the amount awarded, in accordance with the statute. Given this established process, as agreed by Parliament, there are currently no plans to create an independent body to administer compensation following miscarriages of justice.

If he will ban solar radiation management technologies.

The Government position is that it is not deploying solar radiation management technologies and has no plans in place to do so. The government is not in favour of using Solar Radiation Modification.

What steps he is taking to reduce the number of NHS letters regarding (a) appointments and (b) test results received late by patients in Lincolnshire.

The Government is putting patients first, making sure they are seen as quickly as possible and have the best possible experience, which includes receiving timely communication regarding appointments and test results.We are reforming the digital landscape to improve productivity, communication, and to offer greater convenience for National Health Service users, including changing the NHS App to make it easier and more helpful for patients to access information about their appointments. 87% of acute trusts in England now allow patients to view appointment information via the NHS App if they wish, reducing reliance on physical letters. Expanding the use of the NHS App has prevented over 1.5 million missed hospital appointments since July 2024. It also saves staff time, so they can focus on providing high quality, non-digital communication for those who want or need it.We will also build on the success of digitising appointment letters by making more types of content about patients’ treatment available on the NHS App, such as discharge letters, by December 2025.We do not hold data on the number of NHS letters for appointments and test results that have been received late by patients in Lincolnshire in 2024 and 2025.NHS providers in Lincolnshire are working towards a patient engagement portal which allows patients to access correspondence electronically. If patients enable this function, notifications are sent to patients to allow them to log in to see any information in real time.There is also a process in place to telephone all patients that have had an appointment booked less than two weeks in advance, to ensure they have received sufficient notice of their appointments.

What steps his Department is taking to help increase the number of nursing apprenticeships in Lincolnshire.

We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again. This will include how we ensure we train healthcare staff, through all training routes, including nursing apprenticeships, to support patients in all of our communities.

How many (a) dinghies and (b) kayaks used to smuggle people across the English Channel have been seized by Border Force in each of the last five years.

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Communities and Local Government, what (a) training and (b) resources her Department has provided to fire and rescue services to respond to fires related to electric cars.

It is the responsibility of fire and rescue authorities to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate resources, equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend. We will continue to work closely with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) to ensure fire and rescue services have access to the training, resources and equipment they need to keep the public safe.

How many fishing vessels used to smuggle people across the English Channel have been seized by Border Force in each of the last five years.

Border Force seized two fishing vessels in 2024 used to smuggle people across the English Channel.Across years 2022, 2023 and the year to date in 2025, Border Force has seized zero fishing vessels used to smuggle people across the English Channel.Data on this topic for years prior to 2022 is not available in an accessible format.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of asylum seekers that will be dispersed in (a) South Holland District Council and (b) South Kesteven District Council in the next 12 months.

Data, published quarterly, on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including accommodation type, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab of our most recent statistics release. The data can also be broken down by local authority. Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab).

If she will make it her policy to open a return hub in Kosovo.

We do not provide a running commentary on discussions with our overseas partners.

What steps has she taken with the relevant authorities to reduce car and other road vehicle theft in Lincolnshire.

This Government is determined to drive down vehicle crime and we are working with the automotive industry and police, including working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on the issue, to ensure the strongest response possible. I have recently met the NPCC vehicle crime lead, ACC Jenny Sims, as well as other law enforcement representatives and representatives from industry, to discuss how we work together to tackle these damaging crimes.Working with the recently established National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group, we are focusing on prevention and deterrence of theft of and from vehicles. This includes training police officers on the methods used to steal vehicles, encouraging vehicle owners to secure their vehicles, and working with industry to address vulnerabilities in vehicles.We are adding to the armoury the police have to drive down vehicle theft. In the Crime and Policing Bill we have banned electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target the criminals using, manufacturing and supplying them. This will support the changes manufacturers continue to make to make their vehicles as secure as possible.In addition, we provided £250,000 funding in the financial year 2024-25 to help support work at the ports to prevent stolen vehicles and vehicle parts being shipped abroad, including providing additional staff and specialist equipment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the condition of the River Welland in Lincolnshire.

The Environment Agency (EA) inspects the River Welland every year to check for any visible problems with its structures and embankments. In 2022, they also surveyed the river to check for silt build-up and see if extra maintenance was needed. While some silt was found, it wasn’t enough to cause concern compared to other narrow parts of the river, such as bridges. The EA also reviewed how they maintain the Cradge Bank, which is part of the river. As a result, they plan to do more maintenance there to improve grass growth as healthy grass helps prevent the bank from failing.

What steps his Department plans to take to improve outcomes for dementia patients in Lincolnshire.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision of dementia health care services, and we expect ICBs to commission services based on local population need, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines. Lincolnshire is above the national ambition for dementia diagnosis rates, because of prioritising improvements in diagnosis rates. As a system, Lincolnshire is committed to continuing to improve its offer to support the local population following a diagnosis of dementia. This includes developing plans for a dedicated standalone service which will increase its capacity to offer support before, during, and after diagnosis.The Dementia Home Treatment Team provides a countywide, community-based ‘hospital at home’ service seven day a week, for those whose needs are escalating beyond the care of existing community mental health teams.

If she will make an estimate of the number of people qualifying for (a) blue badges, (b) housing benefit and (c) Carer's Allowance in Lincolnshire impacted by her Department's proposed changes to the eligibility for PIP.

Changes to the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will not have an impact on Blue Badge holders as no changes are being made to the mobility component of PIP. The assessment by the Office for Budget Responsibility of the impact of the proposed changes on carers was only made for England and Wales as a whole. The impacts can be found in table A4 here: Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms – Impacts. There will be no immediate changes to PIP eligibility. Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional, who assesses individual needs and circumstance. Reassessments happen on average every 3 years. The number of people currently on PIP who did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP in future. It’s important to make a clear distinction between the two, not least because we don’t want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious. Someone who did not score 4 points in an activity in a previous assessment may well score 4 points in a future assessment as conditions change over time. After taking account of behavioural changes, the OBR predicts that 9 in 10 of those on PIP daily living at the point any changes come in will still be receiving PIP by the end of the decade. We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including ensuring health and care needs are met. We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment to make it fair and fit for purpose, which I will lead. We are bringing together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this. We will provide further details as plans progress. Even with these reforms, the overall number of people on PIP and DLA is expected to rise by 750,000 by the end of this parliament and spending will rise from £23bn in 24/25 to £31bn in 29/30. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

What fiscal steps her Department is taking to support pensioners with the cost of living in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

This Government remains committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. On 9 June the Government announced that, from this winter 2025-26, Winter Fuel Payment eligibility will be expanded in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below or equal to £35,000 will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This will mean that the vast majority of pensioners over three quarters, or 9 million—will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. This change ensures that the means-testing of winter fuel payments has no effect on pensioner poverty. Through our commitment to protect the Triple Lock around 26,000 pensioners in South Holland and the Deepings constituency benefitted from a 4.1% increase to their basic or new State Pension in April 2025. Over the course of this Parliament, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is expected to increase by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest forecast. Support available beyond the State Pension includes: free eye tests; NHS prescriptions; and free bus passes. Some pensioners may also qualify for means tested benefits including Pension Credit and Housing Benefit.

If she will introduce an equivalent to the statutory maternity allowance for self-employed adopters.

In the Department for Business and Trade’s ‘Plan to Make Work Pay’ report, the government committed to a review of the parental leave system to ensure that it best supports working families. This will include consideration of support to self-employed people, including self-employed adopters.

Whether she has had discussions with the Victims Commissioner on the recommendations of the Independent Sentencing Review: Final report, published 22 May 2025.

The Victims’ Commissioner met with the Lord Chancellor, Minister Dakin and the Chair of the Independent Sentencing Review, David Gauke, to discuss the recommendations.The Department continues to engage a range of representatives of the victims’ sector on the Government’s response to the Review.

How many school children are waiting for autism assessment in Lincolnshire.

The information is not held centrally in the format requested but may be held by individual providers or integrated care boards (ICBs). Some relevant information is available on autism assessment waiting times for the NHS Lincolnshire ICB.In the NHS Lincolnshire ICB, the Autism Waiting Time Statistics published by NHS England show that the number of patients aged between zero and 17 years old with an open suspected autism referral, namely diagnosis not yet complete, was 70 at the end of March 2025, which is the latest available data.Data on children and young people in this dataset is expected to be an underestimate and caution should be used when interpreting these figures since, at this stage, they are experimental rather than official statistics.